posted on Nov, 7 2010 @ 01:22 AM
Here are a few things that offices which are subject to FOIRs would rather you not know.
You need a complete understanding of the organizational structure of the office where you are filing the request. This is to ensure your request is
being routed to the proper responsible official for response. There is little reason (generally) for governmental offices to not provide you the
requested information (the laws are pretty specific and there is nothing in it for them to inappropriately deny your request). However, don't assume
that the entire organization has records and that those records are shared with all parts of the organization - in large agencies it is quite easy to
understand records may exist but that knowledge may not be common to all. Some records are used for a specific purpose, and with the paper reduction
initiative, once they become no longer needed, they are deleted. It is easy to read into your request (albeit perhaps wrong) that you might be
looking for registration or licensing information (or something like that) - there may be no requirement for the records you are requesting to be
maintained by the agency (especially if they are old like registrations from 1972), in which case their response would be - no records exist - that
does not mean records never did, nor does that mean the agency is not being truthful. Does that help?
Finally, read the guidlines provided by the federal or state agency from which you are requesting the records - request that are not correct as to
form and content may not be responded to correctly (so don't be overly vague or general in your reqest). The request must be specific (as to what
you are requesting and where those records may be found) and make sure your request is routed to the proper responsible official, this will hopefully
ensure your FOIR is completed.
If you are indeed asking for really low level type info, the likelihood of a negative response where records exist only puts the agency in the
crosshairs of a serious complaint and there is little reason for an office to do that.
Finally, there are protections afforded some records held by the govenment - remember things like criminal investigations and other LEO files are
generally protected from release as well as records which may contain trade secrets or other propriatary info.
Good Luck and hope this helps!